Moistening device



Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNITED, STATES! Parser OFFICE Application October 8, 1941, Serial No. 414,151

s Claims. (01. 9144.4)

- This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved moistening device and in its more specific aspects aims to provide an apparatus of this character which will be of particular value to bank tellers and others who find it necessary to moisten their thumbs or fingers for the purpose of efiectively counting or handling currency, slips of paper, or similar units.

It is an object of theinvention to furnish a moistening device in which the element to be contacted by the fingers of the user or the surface of the articles to which moisture is to be applied, will under all conditions, have its contacting surface substantially, uniformly moist.

A further object is that of providing a unit of this type and in which the element will at all times be readily accessible and maintained in such accessible position, throughout the life of the unit.

Another object is that of furnishing a moistening apparatus which will be extremely compact and the parts of which may be readily accessible for the purpose of cleaning, renewing the reservoir of water within the same, or otherwise.

Still another object is that of designing a moistening device which will embody relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction; such parts being capable of being manufactured largely by quantity production methods so that the unit may be produced for a relatively nominal figure.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings, illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view taken along the lines 22 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 1.

In these views, .the reference numeral 5 indicates the body or container of the apparatus. This body may-gbe formed of glass and serve as a reservoir for water or similar moistening fluid. Adjacent its upper, edge, the body may be formed with a screw thread 6. .As illustrated, this thread is preferably interrupted so that in cooperation with a cover, a bayonet-slot coupling is provided.

The cover may include a body I formed of Bakelite, metal or any other desired material. Extending downwardly from the edge of the cover is a flange 8 which cooperates with the thread 6 in order to provide a quickly detachable connection for these units and by means of which the cover may normally be retained in position upon the upper end of the receptacle. In such position, a lining disc 9 may contact the edge of the receptacle body in order to provide a seal at this point.

For the purpose of providing a moistening element, it is preferred to employ a wick such as has been indicated at ill. While this wick may-- include any desired structure, it is again pre ferred that it be mainly formed of spun-glass fibres. As illustrated, the ends of the wick depend into the body of the receptacle 5 and the central (portion of the same extends through openings in the cover I and bridges the space between such openings. Accordingly, a very desirable form of contact portion is furnished which may readily be engaged by the fingers of the user or by the articles to be moistened. Obviously, capillary action will cause the moisture to pass up through the wick to the bridging portion.

In order to maintain the wick in proper position, it is preferred that the edges of the openings in the upper face of the cover I be defined by flange portions I I which may be integral with the cover material I. These flange or collar portions will obviously brace the wick and serve to prevent displacement of the latter.

These collar portions are conveniently continued in the form of tubes l2 extending from the underface of the cover and which tubes terminate adjacent but spaced from the base of the receptacle 5. In this manner the ends of the wick are properly housed. Additionally, if the receptacle should be upset, it is obvious that the body of water within the same cannot escape through the openings in the cover. This will be true because the inner ends of the tubes will then extend above the surface of the body of the fluid.

It is apparent that both the tubes and/or collar portions need not necessarily be integral with the cover. Rather, they may be mounted thereon in one of any number of obvious and desirable manners.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obvious- 1y, numerous changes in construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A moistening device including a cover formed witha pair of spaced openings and to be applied to a receptacle, and a substantially circular wick having its ends extended through said openings, its body projecting beyond said cover and being unsupported and extending between said openings to furnish a yielding self-supporting bridging element to be contacted by a member to be moistened.

2. A moistening device including a cover formed with a pair of spaced openings and to be applied to a receptacle, a wick having its ends extended through said openings, its body projecting beyond said cover and between said openings to furnish a bridging element to be contacted by a member to be moistened, and collar portions extending from the cover and in line with said openings to maintain the bridging portion of said wick in predetermined position.

3. A moistening device including a cover formed with a pair of spaced openings and to be applied to a receptacle, a wick having its ends extended through said openings, its body projecting beyond said cover and between .saidopenings to furnish a bridging element to be contacted by a member to be moistened, and tubes extending from the inner face of said cover and into the body of the receptacle to which itis applied,'such tubes enclosing the body of said wick.

4. A moistening device including a cover formed with a pair of spaced openings and tobe applied to a receptacle, a wick having its ends extended through said openings, its body 'pro- J'ecting beyond said cover and being unsupported and extending between said openings to furnish a yielding bridging element to be contacted by a member to be moistened, and tubes extending from the inner face of said cover and into the body of the receptacle to which it is applied, such tubes enclosing the body of said wick, and having a length less the depth of the receptacle whereby they will be spaced from the base of the latter when said cover is mounted upon said receptacle.

5. A moistening device including a cover formed with a pair of spaced openings and to be applied to a receptacle, a wick having its ends extended through said openings, its body projecting-beyond said cover and between said openings to :furnish a bridging element to be contacted by a member to be moistened, collar portions extending from the cover and in line with said openings to maintain the bridging portion of said wick in predetermined position, and tubes extending from the inner face of said cover and into the body of the receptacle to which it is apjplied, :suc'h tubes enclosing the body of said wick.

6. In a device of the character described, a liquid containing receptacle, a cover therefor having spaced openings, and a moistening element of cylindrical contour in cross section folded upon .itself to provide spaced parallel .limb's received by the receptacle through said openings, and an intermediate loop-like moistening surface, said openings being smaller in diameter than that of said limbs, whereby the latter are snugly fitted within said openings at points-adjacent thefold of said element to maintain said moistening surface properly spaced above said cover.

EUGENE W. PIKE. 

